 Dear BD,
I have a weight problem, a 26 stone weight problem and the Doc says I should go walking to loose the excess. I was a very outdoors person some years ago (ex forces too) and would like to get out again. Even walking to the end of the road is starting to be an effort, if I dont do something now I will become housebound. I have good boots and some equipment (daypack etc) but sutable clothes are a real problem when your my size so its whatever fits there.
I live within a few miles of the North Yorksire moors so have plenty of good routes to play with.
My question is what should someone of my size do to make sure I dont get into trouble physically, I know I will need more liquid than most fit people, but I see talk of energy drinks and foods, but what for me? I need to burn fat so do I need energy drinks and if so which one, what food types should I concentrate on with my diet, there are so many questions.
I am reading all of your previous articals and finding them both interesting and very imformative, maybe a artical for us really fat people?.
thanks BD.
Danielle
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 You raise a number of questions relating to diet which people more qualified than I will doubtless answer.
Let me pick you up on one point - forget 'energy' drinks if you are trying to lose weight. I have never understood why, if you have just come out of the gym, having burned 300 calories in 30 minutes' cardio work, you would choose to suck down 200 calories of sugar in the form of a 200ml energy drink. That's all they are - sugar by a different name. Drink plenty of water and forget about energy /isotonic drinks - they're just a con for most people.
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 I agree with Jake re Energy Drinks!!!
I went to 18+ stone when I gave up the weed 3 1/2 years ago. Now 15 and a bit. OK, 15 and 5 lbs!
I cut out the snacks, cut down the pudds, eat wholsome food, eat fruit between meals to cut down the munchies and walk every where I can. You don't need mountain gear to walk to the shops or around the park!
Build up to it and set achievable goals to avoid disappointment. Avoid fad diets (Atkins et al). Above all. Be patient, it takes time.
If you really are 26 stone you should also talk to your doctor/ health centre to get advice and in order to avoid complications.
Best wishes and good luck!
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 Danielle, hi :)
You need to be comfortable so wear some loose joggers (which come in all sizes) and forget 'mountain gear' for now. Walk somewhere every day. At first, you'll be counting houses you pass. Soon, you'll be counting the streets. The next job is to go somewhere with better scenery - the local park, say - and you'll get some mental enjoyment out of what you see. Buy some pocket-sized guides to wild flowers etc so that even on a very short walk you'll get something out of it as well as the fitness.
You GP will be able to refer you to a nutritionist to help you with your dietary needs. Beware of things like energy bars - they may say 'low fat' but instead have lots of calories. You will be expending more energy to walk than a thinner person (you're carrying more weight) so your calorie intake can be greater and you can still lose weight. The doctor/nutritionist will help you with a target.
Take some wet wipes with you as you'll be burning quicker than most people (for reason in paragraph above) and it'll help to keep you feeling comfortable.
Good luck and do come back and tell us how you get on.
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 A friend of mine who lived in selby had a similar problem and she has this "exercise on prescription" aranged through her GP which involved a specific program for her, this might be an option.It worked well for her.
My husband also lost several stones when he got a job as a post man so I can vouch for walking being a good way.
I also thought about the title of your thread, If your lifestyle is sutable and you love animals have you thought about getting a Dog to walk, always a good incentive. If you cant commit yourself to a dog there is also a charity that aranges voulenteers to walk elderly peoples dogs for them.Many old people have to give up their pets just because they cant exercise them anymore and this organisation helps keep them together. Just a thought.
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 Danielle
Excuse me for asking but do you drink alcohol at all. The reason I ask is I've cut back drastically(except OM meets) and I've gone from 14st to just under twelve in a matter of months to the point I'm probably underweight. My diet however consists of nothing but fried crap.
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 Danielle, good luck with it.
Going via your GP is well worth it - they'll be able to refer you to the regions health clinic, nutritionist etc to come up with a plan.
I've recently lost 1 and a half stone (two more to go), mostly as a result of seeing a talk by an industrial psychologist. From telling myself "I need more exercise" (which I can subconsciously agree with 100% and then safely ignore)I moved to telling myself that I exercise three times a week, that I cycle to work at least four times a week, that I only snack on fruit and so on. Set myself positive goals and stated them as fact Told myself often enough they became habit.
Might sound like a bunch of psycho-babble but I just arranged for him to come and talk to a bunch of people at work here and afterwards I've never seen so many people fired up to do better things. HTH
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 Go for it Danielle,
Too echo what has already been said, set yourself achivable goals, be happy even if you only loose 1 pound, every little helps.
Walking does you so much good, not only do you feel healthier, you look healthier and your mind is healthier too. What can be better!!
Let us all know how you go on!
Good luck
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 Excellent advice from everyone.
Try to find a book called 'The Urban Gym'.. I think its called; it has loads of excersises you can do when out on a walk, all based on the same type of routines you would do in an expensive gym, but free!
And I thoroughly recommend buying or even borrowing a dog if you can, so much more fun when walking.
I've been laying off the sausages and beer too, and have lost 7lbs in the last 2 weeks!!
[Mind you it'll all go back on at Edale]
Good luck!
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 Hi Danielle,
There's nothing I can add to what's already been said but...'Welcome'! This is a great site with friendly people, so let us know how you get on. Good luck!
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Hey Danielle,
I live within an hours drive of the North Yorkshire Moors, so maybe when you feel more confident about walking a bit further we could meet up.
Good luck... I battle with my weight too.
Ali
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 You asked originally about what you should eat/drink.
The good news is that it seems that the body burns fat fairly efficiently for fuel at lower exercise intensities. Moderate walking would fall into that category if you haven't done any exercise for a while.
Energy drinks (usually containing carbohydrates) don't do you much good exercise-wise until you up the intensity, and your body starts burning carbs in preference to fat. Plain water will keep you hydrated, which is the most important thing to stop you (or me) collapsing into a ditch out on the trail. It's thought that sodium helps your body to absorb water - so if you're really pushing it something salty might help - but I wouldn't have thought it was necessary unless you're really working hard.
For food, I like fruit (fresh/dried) early on in the day - in fact it can keep you going all day if you eat enough of it.
On a big burn-up, I like flapjacks, halva, pasties, and nuts - but I don't usually bother on shorter outings.
Hope this helps and most of all that you enjoy yourself.
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Porridge for breakfast! (keeps you going all day(ish))
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 I've heard (perhaps someone could confirm?) that walking 8,000-12,000 steps per day is almost as good - if not better - than going to a gym.
Use a pedometer and start off with gentle walks. Alternatively you may be surprised at just how far you walk as part of your normal day.
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Stuey,
Do you mean it? Give up beer and whisky?
Arghh! I maight just as well stay out at sea, a veritable ancient mariner - there's nothing to come home to!
(with the noteable exception of the loved ones of course!)
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I'd rather give up food, sex, and even my Alan Titchmarsh videos before being asked to forego beer and whisky.
Beer is an excellent source of vitamin B, and also a muscle relaxant.
Whisky has inspired some of the greatest creative minds that ever lived.
I fel a song coming on........."I get no kick - from Champagne...."
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Oh I dont know marcus, if you ever cross her.
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Well thank you all very much for your replies and the help and advise.
Please keep posting as I'm sure it will help others out there with big weight problems.
Yep I really am 26 stone ish as the scales at the doctors went zooming round and passed the start mark so a acurate reading wasnt possible.
It was my doctor that reccomended I start walking as exercise, and a program recently on BBC1 staring Pauline Quirk, where she went walking as part of a mid life crisis I think, that made me want to get out doors again.
I now have a folder containig diet information provided by the local hospital, its from the british heart foundation and is available to everyone, hmmm lots of nasty green things in here to eat and no chips hehehe :0)
As a homebrew wine type person yep I could go through a bottle a night quiet easy, well I can brew 25 bottles(5 gallon)in 5 days for £20 and all u do is add water and wait!!. But I havent had any in 2 weeks now so far so good. Just think how much fun you could have in the evening at a base camp organised my me though hehehehe :0)
I have had the gem type pocket books on wild flowers, insects and birds for a few years and have just complemented them with the hillwalkers survival guide (isbn 0-00-472203-5).
I do love animals but with my lifestyle it would be unfair to keep a dog, I dont mind walking my parents dogs but they live 120 miles away.
Porrage for breaky sounds good, the proper stuff with salt not sugar.
Allison it would be great to have company once I can get further than the end of the street :0) my leg muscles are like tree trunks, thats to carry my space hopper size belly, once its down to basket ball size I should be ok for a few miles, actually that is my main problem my stomach is so big it puts strain on my back and thats why I carnt walk too far at present, but its a couple of hundred yards to the end of my street, turn right and its hilly countryside so here goes I'll post regularly to this thread to keep every one updated and as a insentive to other people like myself.
Cheers all
Danielle.
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Weight has caused me no end of hassle. I managed to partially rip one of the ligaments while trying to scramble in the summer. I think I bit off more than I could chew. I won't be trying that again til I lose some weight, but it is finally healing up properly with the help of an osteopath
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Try honey with the porage, not salt, or white sugar. Much tastier and better for you!
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